[600MRG] Getting Startedv on 600 Meters

[Edward R Cole]

To drive the AT-1 or other CW transmitter check out the N3ZI DDS synthesizer;
http://www.kl7uw.com/600m.htm
http://www.kl7uw.com/500DDS.htm
http://www.pongrance.com/

I used mine to replace the xtal osc. in a used NDB beacon 
transmitter.  Very stabile (I could not detect drift at 1-Hz resolution).


73, Ed - KL7UW

At 01:24 PM 5/7/2013, pehamel wrote:
>Dick,
>First,
>Hamming will be different from experimenting, please don't give up.
>Then:
>The FCC is years behind on granting 137KC to hams in the US, even 
>though it was legal worldwide two WARC conferences ago.
>We hope they will act on a 630 meter ham band sooner, but the wisdom 
>has been to let the FCC finish their (finally issued) proposal to 
>open 137KC to hams before pushing for 630 meters.
>Thus there are several books and sites on hold to follow the "lead 
>us not into temptation" idea and not get hams building something 
>they "must test" before it is legal to do so.
>
>About the AT-1. Collectors pay BIG $$$ for them.
>It won't do digital. Most new hams don't have the patience to listen 
>to slow CW through static and extremely sharp howling filters (even 
>with DSP), but they will do slow digital, because they can go get 
>coffee and check the computer screen every half hour.
>If you drift half a CPS in a hour you will go out of the receiving 
>passband. Will your 746PRO VFO hold that tolerance overnight?
>
>A .001microfarad cap is NOT a bypass at this frequency. The AT-1 
>plate RF choke will not choke at this frequency.
>
>The second harmonic of 475KC is 950KC, if you don't have an AM 
>broadcast station on that frequency locally, the skip will find one for you.
>The third harmonic is 1425KC where there are other AM stations 
>playing soft all-night music for old people like me.
>
>For the cost of one crystal you can buy one of several DDS VFO kits 
>that will cover the frequency and not drift.
>Crystals for this range require great care. I remember an email 
>where an experimenter tried to rebuild something like the DX-20 oscillator.
>It shattered his custom-cut ($$$$) crystal. (The computer crashed 
>and I have lost the email.)
>
>If you live near a population center there may be enough people that 
>you can talk into getting on the band to have a CW roundtable. 
>Remember, extreme DX with the starting power allowed (five watts 
>EIRP internationally - we don't know what the FCC will allow) 
>requires either very slow CW or digital signals. After a few years, 
>we expect power limits to be increased.
>It may take you a hundred watts from the transmitter to generate 
>five watts EIRP. (I hope you know how to calculate or measure EIRP 
>for your loop antenna).
>www.500kc.com and www.w5jgv.com are good starting points and look at 
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmdqvQk5aV8
>.
>Again, Hamming will be different from experimenting, please don't give up.
>73,
>Pat W5THT & WD2XSH/6
>w5tht at arrl.net
>Unhappy tubes blush, unhappy power FETs scatter plastic loudly
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: <dickbolt at comcast.net>
>To: <600mrg at w7ekb.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, May 07, 2013 12:26 PM
>Subject: [600MRG] Getting Startedv on 600 Meters
>
>
>>
>>Hi, I have madeseveral runs at GOOLE trying to find articles on 
>>building or converting a unit to get on the 600 meter band......No Raly find?
>>I still have my old Heath AT-1 & looks pretty good. I have another 
>>one that is a bit sick! On the assumption any start up unit will be 
>>crystal controlled, converting an old rig like an AT-1 might be a 
>>way. I have an acre to make a circular  loop antenna long & have 
>>now a full sized 80 meter 1/2 wave dipole up. My 746PRO seems to 
>>tune that band, but do not know when to listen? Obviously a new 
>>final coil will be needed in AT-1 tank ckt! Possibly a tank ckt 
>>larger variable cap.
>>Where do I find more advice on getting on band & buying crystals. I 
>>think I have a 500 KC xtal there might be a way to move it like the 
>>old days? Is there a 160 or 80 Mtr net that meets to talk this?
>>Dick in Far Western MD W1DGA.
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>
>
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